Buffalo meat composition as affected by different cooking methods

Buffalo meat is considered in Italy as an alternative product for its good nutritional characteristics. The influence of three cooking methods (boiling, grilling and frying) on the chemical and lipid composition of buffalo meat was evaluated. All the treatments reduced the moisture and increased protein, ash and fat content. The increase in fat content was higher after frying due to the incorporation of fat from olive oil. Fried meat had lower saturated fatty acid content due to the incorporation of mono-unsaturated (C18:1) fatty acids from oil. The incorporation of oil fatty acids caused a decrease in conjugated linoleic acid relative content. Moreover, fried meat showed the highest levels of the unhealthy trans fatty acids. Therefore, frying was shown as the worst cooking methods regarding human health. Boiling and grilling increased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, while frying had no effect on them.